Public Holidays and Special Days 2025: Plan Your Time Off Efficiently

Jan 22, 2025 7 min reading

New Year, New Calendar – Are you among those who, right at the beginning of the year, check which days of the week public holidays fall on? For someone working the “typical” Monday-to-Friday schedule, holidays landing on weekends are often a letdown. However, in industries with continuous operations, retail, or hospitals, it’s a different story. What are the rules for working on public holidays? What should employers know? And what are employees entitled to?

This article only applies to legislation in the Czech Republic.

Legislation on Working on Public Holidays

The Labor Code (specifically §91 of Act 262/2006 Coll.) is clear on this:
“Work is not performed on public holidays!”
That is unless you work in a sector where halting operations would cause serious issues, such as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, transportation, etc.

Compensation for Work on Public Holidays

Wages, time off, or a bonus? If you work during a holiday, your regular pay for the hours worked is guaranteed. On top of that, you are entitled to either compensatory time off or a bonus. These are regulated by the Labor Code, specifically §115 of Act 262/2006 Coll. Let’s illustrate this with an example:

Compensatory Time Off

If you work during a holiday, you are entitled to time off equal to the time worked. You must take this time off by the end of the third calendar month after the holiday unless you agree otherwise with your employer. During this leave, you receive a wage compensation based on your average earnings.

Example:
An employee earning an hourly wage of 8 EUR worked 8 hours on a holiday.

Base wage for the work done: 8 × 8 EUR = 64 EUR
Compensatory time off: The employee takes 8 hours off, during which they receive wage compensation based on their average earnings.
What does this mean? For the hours worked on a holiday, you earn your standard wage and, as a bonus, receive time off to use at your convenience – fully compensated.

Bonus Instead of Time Off

If you prefer not to take compensatory time off, you can agree with your employer on receiving a bonus. This bonus is at least 100% of your average earnings.

Example:
An employee earning an hourly wage of 8 EUR worked 8 hours on a holiday.

Base wage for the work done: 8 × 8 EUR = 64 EUR
Bonus: 8 × 8 EUR = 64 EUR (100% of average earnings)
Total compensation: 128 EUR for work on the public holiday.
What does this mean? In addition to your regular wage for working on a holiday, you receive a bonus equal to 100% of your average earnings. While you forgo compensatory time off, you benefit financially.

Important: The default compensation for holiday work is compensatory time off. The option for a bonus must be agreed upon with your employer.

If a holiday falls on your regular workday and you don’t work, you are entitled to wage compensation – simply put, you get paid for that day as if you had worked.

Why HR Must Keep Public Holidays in Check

Public holidays aren’t just extra days off to relax. For HR, they are critical for budgeting, capacity planning, and organizing work. Their role is to ensure everything runs smoothly – shifts are scheduled, aligned with legislation, and employees are informed about what to expect.

Shift and Operations Planning

Do you work in manufacturing, healthcare, or hospitality? Planning shifts during public holidays is more important than ever. Fairly distributing shifts ensures no one feels like they’re always stuck working holidays. Additionally, open and early communication allows employees to adjust their plans, preventing last-minute chaos or disputes over who takes time off.

For Supervisors:
Shift and operational planning is primarily your responsibility. Keep track of when holidays fall, which operations need to run, and who will be on duty. HR should ensure that scheduling is fair, clearly communicated, and compliant with labor laws.

Legislation

Wages, bonuses, and time off for holiday work are explicitly defined by law. Mistakes in calculations can lead to complaints or fines. HR and payroll accountants must ensure everything aligns with §91 and §115 of the Labor Code.

Budget and Costs

Bonuses, compensatory time off, and administrative demands can significantly impact costs during holidays. HR should collaborate closely with company leadership and team supervisors to determine which operations are essential and where expenses can be minimized. Proper planning can also help reduce costs.

Work-Life Balance

Allow employees to participate actively in shift planning and decide whether they prefer compensatory time off or a bonus for holiday work. This not only gives them greater control over their time but also fosters trust in management and increases their engagement. Such an approach boosts employee satisfaction and creates a better team atmosphere.

Special Days at the Workplace

Holidays and special days are not just opportunities for celebrations. HR can leverage these occasions to strengthen company culture, enhance employee engagement, and foster team relationships.

Traditional Holidays: Christmas, Easter, and St. Nicholas Day

Christmas is often the peak season at workplaces – from parties to charity events. Some companies introduce company-wide holidays to save costs during periods of low demand. Festive decorations are a given, whether for Christmas or Easter. Many businesses organize a St. Nicholas Day event, where parents bring their children to work in the afternoon. St. Nicholas, accompanied by a devil and an angel, distributes gifts to the kids. These events are usually accompanied by programs filled with games and contests for children.

International Women’s Day and Children’s Day

International Women’s Day (March 8) offers an opportunity to appreciate female employees with small gifts. These gestures show that the company values their contributions, which is especially important in industries with gender imbalances. Companies also celebrate Children’s Day, strengthening relationships among employees and showing a commitment to family values, ultimately increasing employee loyalty.

Modern and Thematic Days: Pride Month, Earth Day, and Movember

In modern times, days focusing on important societal topics are gaining popularity.

During Pride Month (June), companies may organize lectures, discussions, and share employee stories, fostering inclusion and equal opportunities.
Earth Day (April 22) is an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, through activities like cleanup events, tree planting, or educational sessions on environmental awareness.
Movember (November) focuses on men’s health, bringing employees together to support a good cause through campaigns or charity events.

Personal Days: Birthdays and Anniversaries

Some companies give employees a day off on their birthdays, showcasing appreciation for each individual. Significant work anniversaries (notable years with the company) are celebrated with special gifts or awards, fostering loyalty and a sense of belonging. These personal celebrations demonstrate that the company values its people not only for their work but also for their unique contributions.

The Importance of These Activities for HR and Corporate Culture

Celebrations and special days in the workplace have a profound impact on corporate culture. They boost morale, strengthen team relationships, and increase employee engagement. By celebrating these occasions, companies enhance their employer branding, making themselves attractive to both current and prospective employees.

Overview of Public Holidays in the Czech Republic for 2025

January 1, 2025 (Wednesday) – Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State, New Year’s Day
March 28, 2025 (Friday) – Good Friday
March 31, 2025 (Monday) – Easter Monday
May 1, 2025 (Thursday) – Labour Day
May 8, 2025 (Thursday) – Victory Day
July 5, 2025 (Saturday) – Day of Slavic Missionaries Cyril and Methodius
July 6, 2025 (Sunday) – Day of the Burning at Stake of Master Jan Hus
September 28, 2025 (Sunday) – Czech Statehood Day
October 28, 2025 (Tuesday) – Day of the Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak State
November 17, 2025 (Monday) – Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day
December 24, 2025 (Wednesday) – Christmas Eve
December 25, 2025 (Thursday) – 1st Christmas Holiday
December 26, 2025 (Friday) – 2nd Christmas Holiday

Overview of store opening hours during public holidays in 2025

For many of us, it is important to know when to plan your shopping, especially if we are dealing with last-minute shopping for the next day. On public holidays, restrictions apply to sales in stores with a sales area larger than 200 m² according to Act No. 223/2016 Coll.

When are stores closed?

Large stores must be closed on these days:

• 1. 1. 2025 (Wednesday): New Year

• 8. 5. 2025 (Thursday): Victory Day

• 28. 9. 2025 (Sunday): Czech Statehood Day

• 28. 10. 2025 (Tuesday): Day of the independent Czechoslovak state

• 24. 12. 2025 (Wednesday): Christmas Eve (open only until 12:00)

• 25. 12. 2025 (Thursday): 1st Christmas Holiday

On other holidays, stores can choose whether to open.

Special opening hours during the Christmas holidays:

24. 12. 2025 (Christmas Eve): Sales allowed only until 12:00.
25. 12.2025 (1st Christmas Holiday): Closed.
26. 12.2025 (2nd Christmas Holiday): Opening hours without restrictions (depending on the decision of the chains).